Wendy Achumba
Police in Imo State have arrested two men for allegedly raping and beheading Wendy Achumba, a female nursing student in Umulogho Community, Obowo Local Government Area of the state.
The spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued on Sunday.
PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that residents found the victim’s decapitated body on Thursday evening inside her hostel room in Umulogho Community, Obowo LGA.
The victim, who hailed from Abia State, studied at the College of Nursing Sciences in Umuadara village, Umulogho Community. She had reportedly completed her midwifery programme and was undergoing post-basic training at the institution.
Suspects arrested
Mr Okoye, a deputy superintendent of police, identified the suspects as Onyema Okonkwo, 32, and Emmanuel Onyekachi, 25.
He said both suspects hail from Umuadara village in Umulogho Community.
According to the police spokesperson, officers arrested the suspects after carrying out sustained intelligence-led investigations in collaboration with community members.
Mr Okoye said one of the suspects, Mr Okonkwo, confessed to raping and killing the 21-year-old student.
“During the investigation, Onyema Okonkwo confessed to killing the victim to conceal his crime after forcibly having unlawful carnal knowledge of her on multiple occasions. He further implicated Emmanuel Onyekachi as being involved in the matter.
“The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet and comprehensive investigation and will be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations,” he said.
The police did not disclose when officers arrested the suspects.
However, it was gathered that youths in Umulogho Community apprehended the suspects at separate locations on Saturday before handing them over to the police.
Mr Okoye also said the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Audu Bosso, assured Nigerians that investigators were handling the matter with “utmost diligence and professionalism.”
According to the statement, Mr Bosso also assured the public that authorities would prosecute anyone found culpable in line with the law.
In a video clip found on Facebook, Mr Okonkwo allegedly confessed to some youths that he and Mr Onyekachi went to the victim’s hostel at about 7 p.m., supposedly on the day of the crime.
The suspect reportedly narrated in Igbo that he initially asked Wendy Achumba to have sex with him, but she refused. He also claimed that during his first attempt to rape her, the victim scratched him violently.
Mr Okonkwo allegedly said he and Mr Onyekachi later overpowered the victim and took turns raping her before Mr Onyekachi allegedly used a machete to cut off her head.